Chameleon Dirk Kuyt drives Netherlands to the quarter-finals

What a sizzling end to the Dutch encounter with the Mexicans. The match was as intense as the scorching sun shining on the foreheads of all the players. With sweat, blood and tears Netherlands managed to leave behind the Mexicans in tears with a dramatic penalty in the dying minutes of the game 2-1!

Determination, will power, attitude and fighting spirit embodies the Dutch squad in their hard earned victory against Mexico. All these traits perfectly describe Dirk Kuyt as a player and the new Dutch centurion played one hell of a match. It was as Kuyt’s will to win was transferred to his team-mates.

After his fine performance against Chile, the former Liverpool star started again as a left-back. But was moved around the squad as an utility tool by van Gaal throughout the entire match. The master tactician was forced to radically change his formation when Mexico took the lead after Giovanni dos Santos picked up the ball and created space for him self for a shot. Van Gaal’s response was switching back to the traditional 4-3-3 with Memphis Depay coming on for right-back Paul Verhaegh. Kuyt was now positioned on the right side of the defence.

Kuyt has always been hailed for his defensive contributions, even in his prime at Liverpool, showed his willingness to sacrifice in order to win the match when he said beforehand: “If Van Gaal wants me to play as a right-back, I can do that as well,’ he said. The natural tendency forward of Kuyt caused trouble for Mexico on the right side but it was not enough to force the equalizer.

The cooling break allowed Van Gaal to set plan C in motion, it was time to go overload and time for Kuyt to fit into another role. With substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as the focal point of the attack, Kuyt served as a second striker in the last minutes of the match. The born Katwijker, evident to his work lust, pressurised the Mexican defence and won a corner for the Dutch. Robben swung the ball towards Huntelaar and the Schalke striker flicked the ball to Wesley Sneijder. The Galatasaray midfielder thundered the ball in from the edge of the box! And it all started with Kuyt’s will to never give up.

The joy continued when Robben won a penalty and Huntelaar converted it, shooting Oranje to the quarter-finals. What a match by the Dutch and what a performance by Kuyt.

It was special day for Kuyt, the 33-year earned his 100th cap for the Netherlands on the same day his father passed away. After his performance against Mexico, undoubtedly his father would have shared the same opinion as the entire nation.